Car manufacturer cuts energy costs by 10%

System of metering devices and software installed across a car manufacturing site that monitors all plant items has produced energy savings exceeding GBP 150,000/year.

With energy savings in excess of GBP 150,000 a year, Schneider Electric's Transparent Building Integrated Systems offer proved an intelligent investment for a prestigious car manufacturing plant in the West Midlands, UK.

The plant, a significant energy user with 400 high-consumption devices, used an advanced metering solution to identify exactly when and where electricity could be saved.

The simple expedient of turning off lighting and equipment that was not required led to remarkable results for the state of the art installation.

A Merlin Gerin branded PowerLogic system of metering devices and software was installed across the entire site, so that all items of the plant could be monitored.

The equipment is connected together using the automotive manufacturer's corporate network so all data collection can be brought back to the main server.

The openness of the PowerLogic system, which uses web-based technology, allows it to be used by all necessary entities of the plant via the company's intranet.

PowerLogic afforded the plant real time monitoring for its power equipment.

It enabled the car manufacturer to find out the quantity of energy being used, where it was being used and at what time each day.

The user-friendly system facilitates accurate capacity planning, individual system monitoring and individual area analysis.

Reports have also been set up within the system, so that those who need to, can monitor usage, perform trending analysis and pinpoint exactly where reductions can be made.

As one example, PowerLogic identified that car park lighting was an area where substantial savings could be made.

As a result, the plant introduced a manual system for car park lighting and reduced energy by a third.

Thanks to the Transparent Building Integrated Systems offering, this prestigious car manufacturer has been able to save 10% of its energy costs year on year.

"Dramatic increases in energy costs together with Government pressure to reduce consumption means achieving these savings is vital," commented Richard Hipkiss, marketing manager of Transparent Building Integrated Systems.

"This company proactively sought to save energy and we were pleased to be able to help with this." * About Schneider Electric - Schneider Electric: Giving the best of the New Electric World, to everyone, everywhere, at any time.

Schneider Electric is the world's power and control specialist.

Through its world-class brands, Merlin Gerin, Square D and Telemecanique, Schneider Electric manufactures and markets a comprehensive range of products and services for the residential, buildings, industry, and energy and infrastructure markets.

Schneider Electric has 85,000 employees worldwide, operations in 130 countries and recorded sales of EUR 9.8 billion in 2004 through 13,000 sales outlets.

Back to top